UIS colonnade selected as 2010 Official City Ornament

The University of Illinois Springfield is proud to have been selected by the St. Joseph’s Home as the centerpiece of the 2010 Official City of Springfield Ornament.

“It’s a great honor for us to be recognized by St. Joseph’s Home on our 40th anniversary in this way,” said UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen.

The ornament features the UIS colonnade, which was completed in the summer of 2005. It quickly has become the major landmark of the university.

“The university is indeed a worthy addition to this wonderful group of buildings and landmarks that define not only the infrastructure of our city, but our very identity as community members here in Springfield,” said Terri Hempstead, development director at St. Joseph’s Home.

A ceremony naming the colonnade as the official city ornament was held near the landmark on October 13, 2010. Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin read a proclamation making the ornament’s title official.

“There’s no better Christmas gift that you can go and give right now and once you start giving that gift people expect that,” said Davlin.

The Ornament is the eighteenth collectible design in the series depicting local landmarks and events. Each ornament is die-cut, hand-assembled, 24-karat gold-plated, and made in the U.S.A. No more than 5,000 of these ornaments will be produced. Each comes with a signed and numbered certificate.

The ornament program supports the mission of St. Joseph’s Home, which has relied on the generosity of Springfield benefactors since the ministry began in 1903. In its first 17 years the ornament program has generated approximately $600,000 to support the home’s ministries.

Ornaments are now available at these Springfield locations: St. Joseph’s Home, UIS Bookstore, St. John’s Hospital gift shops, Tinsley Dry Goods, the Illinois State Museum Store, Heartland Credit Union, Vono Medical Supply, Pleasant Nursery, Pease’s Candy, Wild Birds Unlimited, Bank of Springfield, and It’s All About Wine.

For information on how you can order an ornament online visit the UIS 40th Anniversary website.